Why should I consider a career in business? (Click to open)

It's been said that the business of America is business. Companies, large and small, need capable employees with a
keen knowledge of strategic business concepts. Bottom-line, at SCC we offer you the education and training you will
need to help launch your career in the ever-expanding world of business.

What does SCC offer?

In SCC's department of business and management, you may choose from five options. There are three associate in applied
science (A.A.S.) degrees available in:

In each of these two-year (six-quarter) programs, you spend the first year taking core classes such as accounting,
business principles, computer literacy, economics, business math and communications. During the second year, individualized
coursework is focused on your chosen area of specialization under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Growth forecasts are very strong in the small business/entrepreneurial sectors. The A.A.S. business degree
programs are designed to prepare you for the demands of small or large companies – or to start your own business. The choice is yours!

These fast-track options train you in specific, marketable skills with the goal of quickly entering the job market.

A two-year associate of arts (A.A.) degree program is available for students who plan to continue their business
education at a four-year college or university. SCC has articulation agreements (allowing your SCC credits to transfer) with:

In addition to the core business classes, this option emphasizes liberal arts classes and advanced business
concepts. It is definitely recommended for anyone pursuing a higher level position in the corporate world.

Will I get practical experience?

In addition to classroom learning, there are three ways to gain more business experience:

Enrolling at SCC for cooperative work experience and seminars which enable you to earn credit and get paid for working.

Volunteering for a nonprofit or government agency where you will earn unpaid credit.

Participating in SCC's DECA lets you become part of an exciting campus club that
offers hands-on experience in leadership training.

No matter what you choose, experience clearly counts – paid or unpaid – when applying for a job in business and management.

Where will I find a job?

Because the business world is so broad and diverse, the more appropriate question may be, "Where do you want to work?" Here
are a few positions you may be qualified to pursue with a business degree or certificate from SCC:

Marketing specialist or marketing manager

Store or department manager

Buyer or merchandise manager

Accounts receivable or accounts payable clerk

Sales representative or distribution manager

Customer service or telemarketing representative

Starting your own business!

Whatever your career goals are, SCC is here to help you achieve them! In addition, the SCC instructors work closely with a community
advisory committee to continually evaluate program content, matching it with the job market demands in today's business world.

What will I earn?

The location and size of a company will have a significant impact on wages you can earn. Although entry-level jobs may start out
at minimum wage level – add to the mix your education, work experience, on-the-job opportunities and determination – and you
can advance further in a short period of time. It's up to you!

The earning potential of SCC graduates depends on many factors. Visit salary.com
for salary information by position and location.
How much you can earn depends on the kind of work you enjoy doing and the type of business career you choose.

What other business degrees or certificates are available at SCC?

"It took me twenty years to return to college, starting with SCC and more recently with Whitworth, where I
earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, with a 3.7 GPA. The greatest thing that prepared me for Whitworth was the
business classes I took at SCC and the entire business department. Every day, still, I use concepts and lessons
learned at SCC."

Special Note: Diana was SCC's DEC 1998-99 student of the year. She placed 3rd in the international
marketing segment of the 1999 DEC national competition.

Questions?

What do people in accounting do?

People in accounting are record keepers for businesses and government agencies. Their work may
include making bank deposits; recording checks, purchases, and vendor payments; billing customers;
bill collection; maintaining inventory records; and sales. They may also prepare financial
statements, tax returns, statistical reports, cost analysis, sales projections, and cash
requirements for managerial purposes.

If you work in accounting, you are involved in the heart of a business. The accounting staff deals
with the organization's finances and provides managers with information they need to make good
decisions. Prospective accountants should enjoy working with people as well as with numbers. Since
they must communicate information to others, accountants also need good reading and writing skills.

What does SCC offer in accounting?

SCC offers an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in accounting. The program trains
students for all areas of record keeping and offers an emphasis on computer applications to make
its graduates more marketable.

The A.A.S. degree program is not designed to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
However, SCC also offers a two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree for students who wish to
transfer. The A.A. degree consists of liberal arts classes and includes the first few accounting
courses required at four-year schools. This is the program certified public account (CPA)
candidates would enter.

What if I begin the A.A.S. degree program, then decide to pursue a four-year degree?

If you have been taking classes in the A.A.S. program and then decide to pursue a four-year
degree, contact your business counselor or your accounting instructors so they can assist you in
tailoring your coursework toward a transfer degree.

Can I complete the A.A.S. accounting program in six quarters?

Full-time students with good reading and math skills have little trouble completing the
coursework in six quarters. If you need refresher courses in reading, writing, math, or study
skills, they are offered each quarter at SCC. However, plan to complete these courses in time to
begin the accounting program fall quarter.

Contact your accounting instructors during your first quarter for help in planning your curriculum.

What classes will I take in the A.A.S. degree program?

The accounting curriculum changes often in response to changes in
the business world, but the types of classes you would take include
college accounting, computerized accounting, payroll, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint,
business communications, speech, economics, business law, and nonprofit accounting. Specific course
information is available from your counselor and the
SCC Business and Management Department.

How much will this program cost?

The SCC accounting program is affordable. A year's full-time tuition is less than other
educational institutions in the area. Books, supplies, and lab fees run from $150 to $300 each
quarter. Tuition and other costs are subject to change. Please call (509) 533-7391 for current
information.

Is there any financial help available?

There is a variety of grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study awards available to students.
Financial aid is on a first-come, first-served basis. To get the best financial package, start
early and work closely with SCC's Financial Aid
office. Call them at (509) 533-7017.

Is there a demand for accounting graduates?

"The SCC accounting program gave me the skills I needed to begin my career. The instructors really
care about how students are doing. It helped my self-esteem to see that I could do something and
do it well."

According to recent projections by the Washington State Employment Security Department, the
employment outlook in accounting is expected to remain strong. SCC placement data shows that
graduates who want to work find jobs in accounting.

Where can I get an accounting job?

Since the accounting field is so broad, graduates of this program will find job opportunities
ranging from small, one-person offices to large industrial corporations and government agencies.
Job titles include accountant, inventory clerk, bookkeeper, accounting assistant, cost accountant,
and office manager.

How much will I earn?

Recent graduates of SCC's accounting program have received entry-level salaries of $18,000 to
$24,000 per year. Wage increases often depend on an individual's professional attitude and job
performance. Those who wish to advance into management positions in accounting should complete a
four-year degree.

Business Occupations Certificate

Our short-term Business
Occupations certificate program can be completed in three quarters. The curriculum is
designed to give students basic business knowledge and some marketable skills. The
emphasis is on computer skills, business math combined with 10-key, and written/oral
English skills. There are jobs in the workplace utilizing computer and 10-key skills!
Business knowledge comes from survey of business, accounting, and management or human
relations classes.

Other professional/technical program faculty on the SCC campus encourage each student to complete
an A.A.S. degree, then continue his or her education by completing the Business
Occupations certificate. In the world of work, business concepts are for everyone!

Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in DECA, our student leadership club, or supervised volunteer experience to gain
hands-on experience.

Questions?

General Business A.A.S.

The General Business degree allows the student maximum flexibility
in designing his/her two-year program. After completing the core curricular requirements,
the student may specialize in a particular area of business such as computer user,
accounting, information technology, etc.

Please contact a faculty advisor or an SCC
counselor for assistance to make sure that all program requirements have been met.
Potential positions include accounting clerk, general office clerk, management trainee,
and customer service.

The general business degree differs from the management and marketing degrees because
there are no specific co-operative work experience or seminar required and there are fewer
required classes.

Questions?

Management A.A.S.

The management degree is designed to give the student on-the-job work experience
through co-op seminar and work experience as well as subject matter knowledge in business
management. It takes a special kind of person with a special knack to be a good business
manager who can make effective decisions and motivate people. Do you see yourself as an
entrepreneur? The management degree can give you skills and knowledge to own your own
small business!

Management Certificate

The short-term management certificate is designed for the student who has one year in
which to get basic subject matter knowledge in business management. Students who are
currently working wanting job promotions or upgrades, small business owners who need
additional management skills and knowledge, and other vocational program students who want
business management know-how to go along with specialized skills will find this a very
viable certificate.

Questions?

Marketing A.A.S.

The marketing degree is designed to give the student on-the-job work experience through
co-op. seminar and work experience as well as subject matter knowledge in merchandising
and marketing products and services. Marketing, advertising, retailing, selling
techniques, goal setting, time management, and decision making are a few of the classes
taken. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in DECA,
our student leadership club. Gain hands-on experience in leadership training.
Potential positions include assistant manager, buyer, department manager, store manager,
and merchandising manager.

Why should I consider a legal career?

Like any business, law firms achieve goals and conduct day-to-day operations in an organized,
effective and profitable environment. In today's busy legal setting, attorneys are relying
more on "trained specialists" to assist in providing outstanding service and
cost savings to clients.

As a "trained specialist," while not admitted to the
practice of law, you function as a vital part of a legal team. You perform duties
requiring knowledge of various legal processes enabling a practicing lawyer to focus on
more complex matters.

What does SCC offer?

SCC's Business & Management department offers four areas where you can earn an associate of
arts and sciences (A.A.S.) degree or a professional certificate in specific areas of legal studies:

Legal Administration A.A.S.
(six quarters)Note: The Legal Administration A.A.S. degree has its own program code and
is completely separate from the Legal Nurse and Paralegal programs.

How do I enroll?

Depending on the degree or certificate you plan to pursue, the prerequisites may differ. Therefore, it's critical to meet
with the program coordinator and counseling department early to determine the best program and course schedule for your needs.

For example, acceptance into the paralegal A.A.S. degree program requires that you pass a college assessment test and
satisfactorily complete specific general/basic education courses (all with a 2.0 or 'C' grade minimum).

In the other three legal studies areas, the program coordinator and counseling department will consider your previous
work experience, other degrees achieved and accredited college course transcripts in determining whether you are accepted into a program.

When are classes held?

Most classes are designed to accommodate students who work full-time. The majority of specialty courses are taught in the
evening and/or early in the morning to complement a typical workday. Most specialty law courses are taught every other
year, so it's important to register for those courses as soon as they become available in the quarterly SCC class schedule.

Careful planning is necessary to finish your legal studies
coursework in as few quarters as possible. Once again, it's very important to contact the
program coordinator to help you plan your course schedule early in your program.

Are intern opportunities a part of the programs?

An important component of obtaining your degree or certificate is
working in a law firm (or other legal setting). This opportunity gives you the chance to
work with legal professionals--exchanging ideas and comparing analyses--particularly as
your legal experience grows. Permission and supervision from the program coordinator is
required for an assignment.

Where will I find a job?

Historically, law firms hire the majority of our graduates.
However, career choices are constantly expanding and may include:

credit unions and banks

real estate and title companies

insurance firms

hospitals and medical clinics

government agencies

law libraries

court systems

corporations

These are just a few examples of employers now interested in hiring SCC graduates in
legal careers.

In addition, our program coordinator works with an advisory committee to continually
evaluate course content, matching employment demands for legal personnel with your skills
training at SCC.

How much will I earn?

Locally, legal administration and paralegal wages can range
up to $15.00 per hour depending on the scope of responsibilities and firm size combined
with your experience and skills. Graduates with a legal nurse certificate can start as
high as $20 per hour.

Legal Nurse Certificate

If you are a licensed registered nurse with at least two years of
nursing experience, this program provides training in the legal skills needed to work with
law firms, hospitals, insurance companies and other entities involved in medically related
legal work. You learn to apply your nursing skills and judgment to the legal arena
through:

Organizing and reviewing medical records,

Performing medical and legal analysis,

Assisting in preparing a case for trial,

Interviewing clients and witnesses, and

Drafting legal and court documents.

The legal nurse program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Paralegal and Legal Nurse graduates do not receive a license to practice law, thus performing
legal work directly for the public or giving legal advice directly to the public constitutes the
unauthorized practice of law.

The paralegal A.A.S. degree program is approved by the American Bar Association.

If you are interested in getting started in this program, please contact the program counselor (contact information below).

Certificate

To enter the Paralegal Certificate program, students must have completed one or more of the following from
an accredited college and/or university:

A.A. degree or A.A.S. degree in Legal Secretary

A.A.S. degree in Legal Administrative Assistant

B.A. degree

B.S. degree

The program builds on the general education you've acquired and quickly propels you
into the study of the law where you learn to perform the vital functions of the
"trained specialist" in the legal process.

The paralegal certificate is approved by the American Bar Association.

Paralegal and Legal Nurse graduates do not receive a license to practice law, thus performing
legal work directly for the public or giving legal advice directly to the public constitutes the
unauthorized practice of law.

Associate in Business Direct Transfer Agreement (A.B.-D.T.A.)

The associate in business direct transfer agreement (A.B.-D.T.A.) degree is
a statewide articulated transfer degree agreement for business majors
between the community colleges and baccalaureate colleges and
universities. The associate in business DTA degree shall only be granted
to students who have earned a cumulative grade point average of at
least 2.0, as calculated by the degree awarding institution. Students
will enter the college or university at junior standing. Students should
consult with transfer advisers for the specific requirements of the
intended transfer college or university.

Business Administration (Transfer)

If you are a Business Administration transfer student, you will take classes required for our Spokane
Community College A.A. degree. When you register for classes, use the A.A.
degree worksheet; it will help you decide which classes to take. We assume you are
definitely planning to continue on to a four-year college or university to receive a
bachelor's in business administration, economics, or pre-law. Once you know which
college or university you plan to transfer to, work closely with a counselor or a
department faculty advisor so that you can be assured that your classes will transfer
the way you want. The majority of students will take:

Once you obtain the A.A.S. degree in one of the five named areas, you have choices! You
can get a job with those marketable skills and knowledge you have gained and continue your
education in the evening or on the weekend. Or you can begin working toward your bachelors
of arts degree immediately. No matter what your choice is you have definitely earned your
A.A.S. degree from Spokane Community College.

As you proceed through the coursework for the A.A. degree at SCC, if you determine that
you may not have the financial support to continue on to a four-year college or
university, please contact Ginny Powers, department chair, at (509) 533-7365 or at
Virginia.Powers@scc.spokane.edu.

Economics (Transfer)

If you are an economics transfer student, you will take classes required for our
Spokane Community College A.A. degree. When you register for classes, use the A.A.
degree worksheet; it will help you decide which classes to take. We assume you are
definitely planning to continue on to a four-year college or university to receive a
bachelor's in economics or business administration. Once you know which college or
university you plan to transfer to, work closely with a counselor or a department faculty
advisor so that you can be assured that your classes are transferring the way you want
them to transfer. The majority of students will take:

Business Statistics 217 under Quantitative Reasoning Skills

BCS 110 or CS 101

Economics 201 under Social Sciences

Economics 202, Accounting 101, and Accounting 102 as electives.

The math requirement will be either:

Math 111 Pre-Calculus 1

Math 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry

- or -

Math 201 Intro. To Finite Math and

Math 202 Survey of Calculus

Again, check with a counselor or department faculty advisor.

You may wish to consider the Eastern Washington University articulation agreement in place with our A.A.S. programs:

Once you obtain the A.A.S. degree in one of the five named areas, you have choices! You
can get a job with those marketable skills and knowledge you have gained and continue your
education in the evening or on the weekend. Or you can begin working toward your bachelors
of arts degree immediately. No matter what your choice is you have definitely earned your
A.A.S. degree from Spokane Community College.

As you proceed through the coursework for the A.A. degree at SCC, if you determine that
you may not have the financial support to continue on to a four-year college or
university, please contact Ginny Powers, department chair, at (509) 533-7365 or at
Virginia.Powers@scc.spokane.edu.

If you are an economics transfer student, you will take classes required for our
Spokane Community College A.A. degree. When you register for classes, use the A.A.
degree worksheet; it will help you decide which classes to take. We assume you are
definitely planning to continue on to a four-year college or university to receive a
bachelor's in economics or business administration. Once you know which college or
university you plan to transfer to, work closely with a counselor or a department faculty
advisor so that you can be assured that your classes are transferring the way you want
them to transfer.

All course offerings are subject to change. The college cannot guarantee class offerings,
designated times or specific instructors - as funding levels and student interest may affect whether or not an
offering is available.

Click on the course title to view course description.

Course

Title

Credits

All course offerings are subject to change. The college cannot guarantee class offerings,
designated times or specific instructors - as funding levels and student interest may affect whether or not an
offering is available.

Click on the course title to view course description.

Course

Title

Credits

All course offerings are subject to change. The college cannot guarantee class offerings,
designated times or specific instructors - as funding levels and student interest may affect whether or not an
offering is available.

Click on the course title to view course description.

Course

Title

Credits

All course offerings are subject to change. The college cannot guarantee class offerings,
designated times or specific instructors - as funding levels and student interest may affect whether or not an
offering is available.

Click on the course title to view course description.

Course

Title

Credits

For more current and comprehensive employment information, visit
www.salary.com.

This is an American Bar Association-approved certificate.
Students may be advised by Bob Loomis.

Contact:

Bob Loomis, ext. 7470

Note:

Sometimes qualified paralegals can get their "feet"
through the doors of firms by first assuming legal secretary
roles.

Remember:
Your skills, motivation, experience, attitude and
ability to sell yourself at the interview can make a difference!
Placement rates for our certificates
and degrees range from approximately 75 percent up to 90+ percent depending upon students' goals and Spokane's
local economy.